Muddy Waters: Eagles hardman joins AFL's laws committee

Having broken the rules in the past, West Coast hard man Beau Waters will now have a chance to shape them.

Waters has joined the AFL's Laws of the Game Committee as the new player representative, replacing Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich.

The 26-year-old is far from a cleanskin when it comes to run-ins with the AFL's match review panel, having been cited six times for various indiscretions and suspended for five matches during his seven seasons in the league.

In particular, Waters is likely to gain a far greater appreciation of the AFL's crackdown on the bump.

The All-Australian defender was found guilty twice last season for high bumps, escaping with a reprimand for an incident involving Melbourne co-captain Jack Grimes in April, but copping a one-week ban for a hit on Brisbane midfielder Jack Redden in June.

He was also cleared of another contentious bump on Richmond's Daniel Jackson last year.

Waters has played 113 games since arriving at the Eagles as a first round pick in the 2003 draft, and played in West Coast's 2006 premiership.

After four years in the role, Pavlich stepped down late last year due to increasing study and business commitments outside his playing role.

"The AFL greatly values the contributions of current players, and the wider AFLPA, to the important discussions around the Laws of the Game and is pleased that Beau will join the laws panel," said the AFL's acting football operations manager Gillon McLachlan.